The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-06-18

month, an artist young gentleman, and.
any little luxury comes in handy for
the table.
"An artistP' wistfully repeated
Roxy.
YES" nodded Docia. "Sueh pictures
as he paints with a squeeze or two out
of his color-tubes, and dab of his
brushes! l declare it seems like magic.
You paint, too, Roxy Stephens, don't
you?'
"A little" confessed Roxy, thinking
guilty. of the peach-blossom plaques
and the panels covered with abortive
attempts at autumn leaves that she had
spoiled. "But paintingis no use, Docia.
For woman Imean. I'd a deal rather
| know how to-wash."
Docia Honeywell burst out laughing.
"What odd things you do say, RoxyW
cried she. "But when it comes to paint
ing being no use, just wish you could
see the little bits of canvas and mill
board that our Mr.. Jefferys gets hun
bred and fifty dollars for. A-hundred
-and-fifty-dollars! Going, are your"
for, since the business of washing
was temporarily suspended, poor
Roxy's purpose was blighted. swell,
I'm sure it was very kind of you to
think of the preserved plums, and we'll
be very thankful for them, especially
since mas citron all nodded, and the
blackberries fermented, and blew the
tops off the cans and broke the cellar
windows. And, Roxy, if I'll stop in
some afternoon will you show me that
new crochet stitchP-.the one in shells
and waves, you know, like Mrs. Deacon
Dodd's shawl"
Roxy promised that she would, and
set forth, wondering to herself why it
was that she lacked the moral courage
to ask Docia for instruction in the mys.
teries of the wash tub just as frankly
as Docia had requested her assistance
in unraveling the complexities of the
new crochet stitch.
81 think ! mustbe dreadful goose
sighed Roxy. "But, all the same, that
washing has got to be done, whether
well or i'll. 1t can't be worse than those
algebra problems in the second book
As and q equal z, so must soap, water
and plenty of sunshine equal clear
clothes"
And so the next morning, when Aun
Sally had eaten the ham and eggs
which Roxy had now learned to fry il
so appetizing manner, and drank the
coffee which was clear as any amber,
she set forth on her daily task of root
and herb hunting, and Roxy carried
! the basket of clothes out to the She,
of the brook, where a-mielty old cHet
nut-tree spread 4s.S dome of shade
washed and wrung and rinsed them
until it was mercy that there wer'
any two threads left together. Their
she hung them out on the lines, which
} she had stretched from tree to tree
skewering each article safely in it
place with wooden pins, so that M
frolicsome wind should lure it away.
"And now," said Roxy, as with heaC
slightly on one side she viewed the re
, suit of her prowess, Il think w
} earned a little rest" And drawing
Franklin Square, novel from he
pocket, Roxy sat down under the bi;
tree, with her sun-bonnet thrown back
her loose curls tangled over her fore
{ head, and her round white arms still
5 bare to the shoulder, to read, and be
| fore she knew it she was asleep.
= When she awakened she was n
longer alone. Between her and the sun
S shine there was-could she believe he
: eyesP-yea, verify, there was a youn;
, man hurriedly working at a port
, able easel, which was set up on a leve
, spot on the grass, with all the com
e posure and GpLon,b of n young man VIII
, felt himself to be in the right place i
creations diagram. She looked at hir
e with solemn, sleep-shadowed eyes; h
looked back at her exactly as if she wa
h a part of the landscape, and worke
Y steadily on in silence.
!, care you an artist?" said she. "Ar
you painting the old chestnut-tree
e Oh, you must be the gentleman tha
c Docia Honeywell told me about" An
j, then she suddenly remembered til
4 tangled fringe of curls, the round, III
e covered arms, and jumped up in
panic of very becoming confusion.
o Il am Mark Jeffery," said the arts
}. composedly. Eyes, am boarding ;
d Squire Honeywell's house. And youP
81 am Roxy Stephens" said the CIR
c hurridly pulling down her Gallo
If sleeves. If you will just step up
/ the house l will give a jar of wild plum
J. that promised to Docia; that's" (wit
S an abrupt consciousness of her teme
If ity) "if you don't mind carrying it '
y And this was the manner of the
a | E,.st oocuotpNonaa